Evolution of a three body scattering signature: 26 May 2010
Introduction
Echoes due to three body scattering are typically seen down-range of thunderstorms that contain high reflectivity regions located at heights of several km above the ground. When these high reflectivity areas are illuminated by the radar pulse, they re-radiate a scattered component of the incident energy in all directions. Some of this scattered energy is reflected off of the underlying ground surface, producing a re-illumination of particles in the pulse volume. A portion of this re-scattered energy is directed back towards the radar where it may result in a detectable echo. The lengthened path travelled by these signals (radar -> hydrometeors -> ground -> back to hydrometeors -> back to the radar) causes them to appear as down-range extensions of the generating thunderstorm echo. The presence of hailstones aloft with significant diameters and concentrations can cause the appearance of the three body signature. During CSU-CHILL operations on 26 May 2010, an intensifying hailstorm was observed to develop an increasingly well defined three body signature.
RHI Data
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PPI Data
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